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Oh, Inverted World

 
Album Review: Oh, Inverted World

  • Artist: The Shins
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: June 19, 2001
  • Total Time: 31:51
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Enhanced CD-ROM
  • Genre: Rock

Review

Beginning with "Caring Is Creepy," which opens this album with a psychedelic flourish that would not be out of place on a late-1960s Moody Blues, Beach Boys, or Love release, the Shins present a collection of retro pop nuggets that distill the finer aspects of classic acid rock with surrealistic lyrics, independently melodic basslines, jangly guitars, echo laden vocals, minimalist keyboard motifs, and a myriad of cosmic sound effects. With only two of the cuts clocking in at over four minutes, Oh Inverted World avoids the penchant for self-indulgence that befalls most outfits who worship at the altar of Syd Barrett, Skip Spence, and Arthur Lee. Lead singer James Mercer's lazy, hazy phrasing and vocal timbre, which often echoes a young Brian Wilson, drifts in and out of the subtle tempo changes of "Know Your Onion," the jagged rhythm in "Girl Inform Me," the Donovan-esque folksy veneer of "New Slang," and the Warhol's Factory aura of "Your Algebra," all of which illustrate this New Mexico-based quartet's adept knowledge of the progressive/art rock genre which they so lovingly pay homage to. Though the production and mix are somewhat polished when compared to the memorable recordings of Moby Grape and early-Pink Floyd, the Shins capture the spirit of '67 with stunning accuracy. ~ Tom Semioli, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Caring Is Creepy The Shins, James Mercer The Shins (3:20)
One by One All Day The Shins, James Mercer The Shins (4:09)
Weird Divide The Shins, James Mercer The Shins (1:58)
Know Your Onion! The Shins, James Mercer The Shins (2:29)
Girl Inform Me The Shins, James Mercer The Shins (2:21)
New Slang The Shins, James Mercer The Shins (3:51)
The Celibate Life The Shins, James Mercer The Shins (1:51)
Girl on the Wing The Shins, James Mercer The Shins (2:50)
Your Algebra The Shins, James Mercer The Shins (2:23)
Pressed in a Book The Shins, James Mercer The Shins (2:55)
The Past and Pending The Shins, James Mercer The Shins (5:24)

Credits

John Golden (Mastering), The Shins (Producer), The Shins (Main Performer), James Mercer (Guitar), James Mercer (Vocals), Jesse Sandoval (Drums), Marty Crandall (Keyboards), Neal Langford (Bass), Dave Yanul Hernandez (Bass)
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Wikipedia: Oh, Inverted World
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Oh, Inverted World
Studio album by The Shins
Released June 19, 2001
Recorded 2000–2001
Genre Indie rock
Indie pop
Length 31:51
Label Sub Pop
Producer James Mercer, The Shins
Professional reviews
The Shins chronology
When You Land Here, It's Time to Return
as Flake Music
(1997)
Oh, Inverted World
(2001)
Chutes Too Narrow
(2003)

Oh, Inverted World is the first album by The Shins, released June 19, 2001 to critical acclaim. Omnibus Records put out an initial run of vinyl distributed by Darla. Sub Pop Records reprinted the vinyl. Only the Sub Pop logo appears on later pressings. The album's title comes from a lyric in the second track, "One by One All Day", and alludes to a line from German philosopher and economist Karl Marx. In his 1843 Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right, Marx blames religion for creating an "inverted world consciousness" that excuses mankind from self-responsibility.[1]

The album contains the songs "Caring Is Creepy" and "New Slang," both of which appeared in the 2004 film Garden State.[citation needed] The songs on the album are heavily influenced by 1960s sunshine pop.[citation needed]

Reception

Oh, Inverted World placed at number 35 on the Pazz & Jop critic's poll for 2001.[citation needed] Online music magazine Pitchfork placed Oh, Inverted World at number 115 on their list of top 200 albums of the 2000s.[2]

Track listing

All songs written by James Mercer.

  1. "Caring Is Creepy" – 3:20
  2. "One by One All Day" – 4:09
  3. "Weird Divide" – 1:58
  4. "Know Your Onion!" – 2:29
  5. "Girl Inform Me" – 2:21
  6. "New Slang" – 3:51
  7. "The Celibate Life" – 1:51
  8. "Girl on the Wing" – 2:50
  9. "Your Algebra" – 2:23
  10. "Pressed in a Book" – 2:55
  11. "The Past and Pending" – 5:22
  12. "Sphagnum Esplanade" (Japanese Bonus Track) – 4:20

References

  1. ^ Marx, Karl. Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Right: Introduction; The Marx-Engels Reader; Norton.
  2. ^ Pitchfork staff (September 28, 2009). "The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 200-151". Pitchfork. http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7707-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-150-101/4/. Retrieved October 1, 2009. 

 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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